Last curtain call for a special lady

A look at life by Gayle Gennett

A look at life by Gayle Gennett

October 31, 2007

It was the fall of 1974 and I was the brand new kid on the block at Charlevoix High School.

I was fresh out of graduate school, attired in my plaid bell bottoms that complimented my air of authority on everything and nothing at the same time. The man at the helm of my new job took great pride displaying the well polished hallways of the high school, talking endlessly without taking a breath. Vane Smith was going to show me the ropes of what I was expected to do in this building that housed approximately 640 of Charlevoix’s finest youth.

After explaining the history of the Carey family and looking over the various trophies on display he took me by the arm and led me directly into her classroom.

“Now, this woman knows how to teach, compete and get the job done,” he boasted.

I stared in awe at the altar of trophies and plaques that lined the entire wall of a classroom. This case was at least three times larger than the one I had just viewed moments before in the hallway.

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While gazing at the bronze and gold ornaments glistening in the afternoon sunlight, I felt a bit overwhelmed. I knew without a doubt that I had arrived at a school that took sports and performing arts seriously. My new boss was pleased with how this woman, who usually kept to herself and her students, had made arrangements with parents and anyone who would listen and transport them to places that many of us had never heard of. She instilled in her future prot/g/’s confidence and stimulated their ability to think on their feet. Mrs. Ford or “M.F.” as she was often referred to, let them know that they could compete with the “big guys.”

In all the years I worked at Charlevoix High School, Connie Ford was a force to be reckoned with. She rarely spent time in the lounge or even in the school lunch room. Her life was dedicated to her students and the next performance she’d take on the road. Many a student can claim that they were brought out of their shell and could feel comfortable speaking to a group with conviction after spending time in her class.

I remember her classes were some of the larger ones at the high school. Students might have conjectured that her speech class was going to be easy. On the contrary — she put you to work the moment you entered. She reminded me of a grilled cheese sandwich-crusty on the outside and soft in the middle. She had a heart of gold for the student who was willing to work hard but if you slacked off she was quick to let you know who was boss.

I remember her excitement over the new auditorium. It was like manna from heaven. The sound booth was sacred and only students who were dedicated to taking care of it were given the chance to give it a spin. She expected nothing less than the best and her students gave it their all.

Connie Ford never complained about pain — work needed to be done. With the assistance of her daughter, Beth, things continued on course and the program didn’t miss a beat. I spent time with her in the hospital and at Sunnybank Assisted Living. Nurses would turn to me and say, “Doesn’t she know she is dying?” Her cancer began to spread and she needed the special nursing care that Boulder Park could offer. Her former students who visited those last few days saw a woman who continued to think of ideas of what to do next and rarely spoke about the disease that was ravaging her body. She had a high tolerance for pain and was not afraid to meet her maker.

There will be a presence missed at Charlevoix High School but believe me when I say, her spirit lives on in all the lives she has touched, including mine.

Gayle Gennett is a columnist for the Charlevoix Courier. She can be contacted by calling (231) 547-6558 or by e-mail at news@charlevoixcourier.com.